New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

Game Total: 9

BOS -115

 

Game Play Predictions

New York Yankees

  • Masahiro Tanaka has not allowed an earned run in two straight starts spanning 15 innings.

  • Tanaka has struck out five or more in six consecutive starts which has helped him raise his K-rate to 25.5-percent.

  • Tanaka has struggled mightily against the Red Sox this season allowing 10 earned runs over 10.1 innings across the two starts he’s made against them. He’s mostly struggled with the home run ball as Boston has taken him deep four times this season.

  • Aaron Hicks is slashing .346/.526/.615 over his last 10 games. He’s walked 11 times over that 10-game span.

  • Despite the fact that this is a lefty-lefty matchup, Didi Gregorius is 13-for-30 with a homer off of David Price which is good for a .433 AVG.

  • Giancarlo Stanton is hitting .366 with 10 HR and a .478 wOBA versus left-handed pitching this year. He’s 5-for-13 off of Price.

  • Neil Walker has gone from extremely hot to ice cold in the matter of two weeks. He was 11-for-17 before his last four games in which he has gone 0-for-9.

 

Boston Red Sox

  • David Price has three straight quality starts including his last game in which he threw eight innings of one-run ball against the Phillies.

  • Price has been absolutely shallacked by the Yankees this season allowing 12 earned runs across two starts that have spanned just 4.1 innings.

  • Price has been very consistent as he’s thrown at least six innings eight times over his last 10 starts.

  • The Red Sox have four players on their active roster with two home runs or more off Tanaka: J.D. Martínez , Mitch Moreland , Steve Pearce , Andrew Benintendi

  • Speaking of J.D. Martínez , Martinez has Tanaka’s number. He’s 7-for-14 with three homers off of the Yankees right-hander.

  • Steve Pearce has hit four home runs in the last two games of this series alone which has helped him raise his season OPS to .992.

  • Xander Bogaerts has really been struggling at the dish of late posting just four hits over his last 26 at-bats.

  • Mookie Betts has really enjoyed playing at home this season and he’s hitting .373 with a 1.166 OPS at Fenway Park.

Pre-game Props

Q1 - Both teams combine to take 6 or more called strikes in the 1st Inning

With how often Masahiro Tanaka throws strikes, it’s hard for me to envision Boston sitting back and working counts and just allowing him to throw strikes. The Yankees could definitely do it, but I doubt Boston would. I’m going NO here.

Q2 -A batter from both teams swings at 3 or more pitches in the 1st Inning

I spoke about how Tanaka throws all strikes, but David Price does too. I actually think both teams have a player that swings at three or more pitches in the first.

Q3 - 2 or more batters from each team take the 1st pitch they see in the 1st Inning

Although the teams are such free swingers, it’s just so common for players to take the first pitch. I think this is a lock and I’m going YES here.

Q4 - A NYY batter swings at the first pitch of a plate appearance in the 1st Inning

Depending on the lineup, I could see it, but if Brett Gardner is back in the leadoff hole, I think he’ll set the tone for the rest of the guys about patience. I’m going NO here in anticipation that Gardy is leading off.

Q5 - The BOS outfield records or assists on 2 or more outs in the 1st Inning

David Price get 40-percent of his outs via fly balls, so I’m saying this happens easily. I’m going YES here.

Q6 - 2 or more NYY batters reach base in the 1st Inning

The team needs it having lost the first three games of this series already, but the team has no life right now scoring just two runs combined in the last two games of this series. I’m going NO for this one.